"Are you nuts?" asked the pros, almost in unison. "Don't
you know that people don't read nowadays? And those who do won't bother
with an upstart paper."

Don't you realize that family-owned papers can't survive? Virtually every
newspaper, magazine and television station is owned by conglomerates and
big corporations, they warned.

Thanks for the assurances, we replied. Then we dug in our heels. Finally,
on Earth Day, 1993, 5,000 issues of the first New Bay Times hit the streets
of Chesapeake Country. (Sorry if they looked a tad homely.) They went so
fast we had another 5,000 printed a week later.

That was five years ago and, as you can see from this issue, New Bay
Times is still kicking. Kicking some behinds, as a matter of fact, and taking
names along the way. And, we hope, we're not homely any more.

Why are we still around? It has less to do with our stubborn streak than
with the good sense of you, our readers. Fact is, those naysayers back in
the beginning were selling short the good people along the Chesapeake Bay.

They didn't understand that you wanted more stories about recreation,
the environment, Chesapeake history and Bay people as well as tips on our
quest for a high-quality life.

They didn't understand that people everywhere already have enough news
about crime.

They didn't understand that Chesapeake Country is a community of interests,
not just a bunch of towns strung together and competing against one another.

They didn't understand that our region - from Solomons to Severna Park
and beyond - lacked an inspired calendar of events for fast-moving readers.
As well as your own strong want-ads.

They didn't understand that our 40,000-plus readers each week would support
our advertisers as loyally as you do.

Perhaps, on our fifth birthday, they understand now that the people along
the Chesapeake Bay are special and can't be taken for granted. So on this
occasion, as we receive your well-wishes, we thank you for proving wrong
those "pros."

Note: We also invite you to eat and drink heartily at our Bivalve Birthday
Bash on Sunday, May 3, from noon to 5pm at Surfside 7 on Rt. 2 south of
the South River Bridge. An auction of over 100 fine items and services -
from art to crabs to massages to skipjack tours to nights on the town to
Orioles tickets - will benefit the Oyster Recovery Partnership.